[Ips-hf-warning] ASWFC HF DEPRESSION WARNING issued 2317 UT on 13 May 2026 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

[Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre]

SUBJ: ASWFC HF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WARNING 26/48
ISSUED AT 2316UT/13 MAY 2026
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

Australian region MUFs are depressed by 15% after local dawn 
today. 10-15% depressions are expected to continue over 15-16 
May due to expected geomagnetic activity.

DEGRADED HF PROPAGATION CONDITIONS EXPECTED
FROM 14-16 MAY 2026
IF COMMS DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED TRY A LOWER FREQUENCY BAND
_____________________________________________________________

HF COMMUNICATIONS FORECAST (AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND REGION)
                                   FREQUENCY BANDS
       T-index      MUFs        2  4  6  8 12 16 22 26
_____________________________________________________________
14 May:   45          -15%      2  4  6  8 12 12 16 22
15 May:   50          -10%      2  4  6  8 12 16 16 22
16 May:   50          -10%      2  4  6  8 12 16 16 22

Note:
An ASWFC MUF depression HF Warning and ASWFC shortwave fadeout 
HF Warning are both current. Shortwave fadeouts degrade 
lower shortwave radio frequencies first (through increased 
ionospheric absorption) and the usual strategy during shortwave 
fadeouts is to try a higher frequency. In contrast, during 
periods of ionospheric MUF depression, the upper frequencies 
are degraded first and the usual strategy is to use a 
lower frequency. 

In general use a lower frequency if you are having trouble
with your normal workable frequency.

If a shortwave fadeout occurs during a period when ionospheric 
MUFs are depressed the available HF bandwidth will be "squeezed", 
with increased absorption raising the lowest usable frequency 
and the ionospheric depression lowering the highest usable 
frequency. Under such conditions it is suggested that the 
HF communicator operates on the highest usable frequency, 
even though this may well be in fact lower than what is normally 
supported for that particular circuit.

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
ASWFC at bom.gov.au
www.bom.gov.au | www.sws.bom.gov.au